Etymology
From Middle English sword, swerd, from Old English sweord (sword), from Proto-West Germanic *swerd, from Proto-Germanic *swerdą (sword), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *seh₂w- (sharp). Cognate with Scots swuird, swerd, sword (sword), North Frisian swird (sword), West Frisian swurd (sword), Dutch zwaard (sword), Low German Sweerd, Schwert (sword), German Schwert (sword), Danish sværd, Norwegian sverd, Swedish svärd (sword), Icelandic sverð (sword), Old East Slavic свьрдьлъ or svĭrdĭlŭ (drill).
Noun
sword (plural swords)
- (weaponry) A long bladed weapon with a grip and typically a pommel and crossguard (together forming a hilt), which is designed to cut, stab, slash and/or hack.
- (card games) A suit in certain playing card decks, particularly those used in Spain and Italy, or those used for divination.
- (card games) A card of this suit.
- (weaving) One of the end bars by which the lay of a hand loom is suspended.
Derived terms
- broadsword
- court sword
- double-edged sword
- hunting sword
- longsword
- ninja sword
- samurai sword
- sword fighting
- swordfish
- swordsman
- swordsmanship
- swordsperson
- swordswoman
Verb
sword (third-person singular simple present swords, present participle swording, simple past and past participle sworded)
- To stab or cut with a sword
Credits
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